Welcome to Year 7

Dear Parents and Guardians of Year 7,

We have been excited and proud to welcome our Year 7s into school this week.  It has been wonderful to see the students take the first steps on their journey into Secondary education with such confidence and resilience, and the team have very much enjoyed getting to know both our returning DBIS students and those new to the DBIS family.

I am delighted to introduce the Year 7 tutor team to you. They bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm and are dedicated to ensuring that your child’s transition into the Secondary phase continues to be happy and successful. They are the first point of contact for you and your child.

Year 7 Tutor Team

Amy McGlashan – Year 7 Dragon

I have come to Hong Kong from Aberdeen in Scotland. I teach History, and in my free time I like paddle boarding and playing rugby. I am so excited to be the Y7 Dragon form tutor this year! I am looking forward to getting to know you and your children and helping them settle in for what will be an amazing first year in the Secondary School! 

Nadeane Botha – Year 7 Griffin

I’m delighted to be the Y7 Griffin form tutor for the upcoming year. I’m originally from South Africa and have been enjoying life in Hong Kong for the past two years. Outside of school and teaching Business Studies, I have a great passion for music, and like staying active with various sports. I’m genuinely looking forward to meeting you and the students and guiding them through a successful and memorable first year!

Juniper Thang – Year 7 Goldhorn

I am originally from Singapore, where I taught for several years before moving to Hong Kong to be a Science and Chemistry teacher at DBIS. Besides my passion for the sciences, I enjoy playing football and volleyball and relish in jamming on my keyboard and saxophone. It has been exciting having the Y7 Goldhorns as my tutor group, as they have been a real delight to work with. I am looking forward to growing along with them and ensuring that they have all that they need to succeed in both academic and non-academic pursuits in school.

Colette Jones – Year 7 Phoenix

I have lived in Hong Kong for 25 years, and this is my sixth year at DBIS as an English teacher. When I’m not in the classroom, you’ll find me with my head in a good book or exploring one of Hong Kong’s beautiful hiking trails or hidden laneways. Year 7 is a particularly exciting year, and I am looking forward to supporting my Phoenix form group with the transition to Secondary as they find their feet, make friends and navigate this new adventure. 

Important Dates

Below are a number of important dates for your diary.  Reminders and further details regarding these events will be sent out approximately two weeks beforehand. Please also check the hub regularly for notices related to Year 7.

Friday 19 September: Book Day

 

Wednesday 24 September: Tutor reports published

 

Thursday 2 October: Meet the Tutor

 

Friday 17 October: Last day before half term begins

 

Monday 10 – Friday 14 November: Week Without Walls

 

Thursday 20 November: Short reports published

 

Thursday 27 November: PTSC

 

Thursday 4 December : Form-time celebration

 

Tuesday 9 December: Winter Concert

 

Friday 12 December 12: Last day of Term 1

 

Uniform

Wearing the correct school uniform is a significant part of a successful transition into Year 7. It helps new students quickly feel a sense of belonging and unity in our school community.  Tutors will regularly check uniforms and advise parents if there are any issues with any items of clothing or footwear.  All items of uniform are available to purchase from our uniform shop.  Please check the hub for details of opening times and details of uniform requirements. The link is here.

Attendance and Punctuality

Good attendance and punctuality at school are key factors in ensuring a student’s overall success.  If your child is unable to attend school through illness, please complete the Unplanned Absence jotform on the hub, which will be forwarded to me and your child’s tutor.  For Planned Absence, please complete the jotform linked, which will then be subject to approval. Unexplained absence from school will be followed up on with a telephone call from our school office.

Extracurricular Activities (ECAs)

Taking part in a wide range of ECAs is a wonderful way for Year 7 students to broaden their experiences in school, develop their leadership skills and form new friendships.  We encourage our students to take advantage of the wealth of opportunities offered to them across a variety of disciplines in Sports, Performing Arts and Inquiring Minds. Further details about sports at DBIS can be found here. The ECA timetable can be found here.

Student Diary and Organisation

Year 7 students can often find getting to grips with personal organisation and planning a challenge at the start of the academic year. Key to helping with this is their student diary; this is where their timetables and home learning can be found, and we would be grateful for your support in helping monitor this in partnership with us. Please encourage your child to pack their own bag and check their timetable and diary in the evenings so that they are fully prepared and ready for the next day.

Meet the Team Slides

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Meet the Team event on 21st August. To view the slides from the evening, please click here.

We understand that starting a new phase in your child’s educational journey can be a daunting time. Please be assured that we are committed to ensuring a smooth transition into Secondary and are always here to support you in any way possible. 

I look forward to meeting many of you over the coming weeks and getting to know your child as they enter the Secondary phase at DBIS.

 

Best wishes,

 

Louise Tyrrell

Head of Year 7